Stormwater management crate assembly with tapered columns

Abstract

Stormwater management systems, methods, and apparatus for containing and filtering runoff may be provided. In one implementation, a stormwater management crate for managing stormwater runoff may be provided. The stormwater management crate may include a top plate having a first plurality of support column attachments and one or more support column assemblies located below the top plate; the one or more support column assemblies being affixed to the top plate at the support column attachments. The stormwater management crate may further include an intermediate plate may be located below the top plate and above the bottom plate. The intermediate plate may have a third plurality of support column attachments. The intermediate plate may be lightweight and may weigh less than one or both of the top plate and the bottom plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stormwater management crate for managing stormwater runoff, the crate comprising:
 a top plate having a first plurality of support column attachments;   a plurality of support column assemblies located below the top plate; the support column assemblies affixed to the top plate at the support column attachments;   a bottom plate having a second plurality of support column attachments located below the support column assemblies; and   at least one intermediate plate having a third plurality of support column attachments; the at least one intermediate plate located below the top plate and above the bottom plate.   
     
     
         2 . The stormwater management crate of  claim 1 , wherein the support column assemblies are affixed to the at least one intermediate plate at the support column attachments. 
     
     
         3 . The stormwater management crate of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate plate has a weight, the top plate has a weight, and the bottom plate has a weight, the weight of the intermediate plate being less than the weight of one or both of the top plate and the weight of the bottom plate. 
     
     
         4 . The stormwater management crate of  claim 3 , wherein the weight of the top plate is substantially the same as or identical to the weight of the bottom plate. 
     
     
         5 . The stormwater management crate of  claim 1 , wherein the support column assemblies have a tapered shape. 
     
     
         6 . The stormwater management crate of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second plurality of support column attachments comprise a bayonet connection. 
     
     
         7 . The stormwater management crate of  claim 2 , wherein the top plate is configured to bear a load greater than a maximum load the intermediate plate is configured to bear. 
     
     
         8 . A stormwater management crate for managing stormwater runoff, the crate comprising:
 a top plate having a first plurality of support column attachments;   a plurality of support column assemblies located below the top plate, the support column assemblies affixed to the top plate at the support column attachments; and   a lightweight intermediate plate having a second plurality of support column attachments located below the support column assemblies;   
       wherein the lightweight intermediate plate weighs less than the top plate. 
     
     
         9 . The stormwater management crate of  claim 8 , wherein the support column assemblies have a tapered shape. 
     
     
         10 . The stormwater management crate of  claim 8 , wherein the lightweight intermediate plate comprises less material than the top plate. 
     
     
         11 . The stormwater management crate of  claim 8 , wherein the lightweight intermediate plate includes hook locks and slot locks. 
     
     
         12 . The stormwater management crate of  claim 11 , wherein the lightweight intermediate plate is affixed to an adjacent lightweight intermediate plate. 
     
     
         13 . The stormwater management crate of  claim 8 , wherein the lightweight intermediate plate includes perforations. 
     
     
         14 . The stormwater management crate of  claim 8 , wherein the lightweight intermediate plate includes support members. 
     
     
         15 . The stormwater management crate of  claim 8 , wherein lightweight intermediate plate includes column connection recesses. 
     
     
         16 . A stormwater management crate assembly for managing stormwater runoff comprising:
 a plurality of stormwater management crates arranged in a modular array, the stormwater management crates comprising:
 a top plate having a first plurality of support column attachments; 
 a plurality of support column assemblies located below the top plate; the support column assemblies affixed to the top plate at the support column attachments; 
   a bottom plate having a second plurality of support column attachments located below the support column assemblies; and   at least one intermediate plate having a third plurality of support column attachments; the at least one intermediate plate located below the top plate and above the bottom plate.   
     
     
         17 . The stormwater management crate assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one intermediate plate weighs less than the one or both of top plate and the bottom plate. 
     
     
         18 . The stormwater management crate assembly of  claim 16 , wherein a first stormwater management crate is stacked vertically on top of a second stormwater management crate. 
     
     
         19 . The stormwater management crate assembly of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first plurality of support column assemblies and the second plurality of support column assemblies has a tapered shape. 
     
     
         20 . The stormwater management crate assembly of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first plurality of support column attachments and the second plurality of support column attachments comprises a bayonet connection.